The Latino Commission on AIDS, in partnership with the Hispanic Health Network, has announced that the 2026 Cielo Gala will take place on Friday, June 5, 2026, at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City. The event continues the theme "Designing a World Without AIDS," highlighting the urgent need to confront the unequal impact of HIV on Latine communities. This announcement comes 40 years after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control first documented the disproportionate toll of HIV on Black and Latino people in the country.
"Forty years after the CDC first reported the disproportionate impact of HIV on Black and Latino communities, we are reminded that our work is far from finished," said Guillermo Chacón, President of the Latino Commission on AIDS. He emphasized that the Gala serves as both a celebration of progress and a call to action, reaffirming a commitment to a future where prevention, care, and compassion reach everyone without exception. The event brings together leaders across public health, government, philanthropy, entertainment, and corporate sectors to build a world where HIV is no longer a public health threat and all communities have equitable access to prevention, care, and dignity.
The organization has announced the 2026 Cielo Gala award recipients, each recognized for their dedication to improving health outcomes and championing underserved communities. Dr. Helen Arteaga-Landaverde, CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst, will receive the Esperanza (Hope) Award for her leadership in community-centered healthcare and commitment to advancing health equity for immigrant and Latine communities. Gregory Millett, MPH, Vice President and Director of Public Policy at amfAR, will be honored with the Dennis deLeon Voz de Compromiso (Voice of Commitment) Award for his national leadership in HIV research, policy innovation, and advocacy addressing racial and ethnic disparities. Mario Pérez, Director of the Division of HIV and STD Programs for Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, will receive the Compañero (Partner) Award for his decades-long contributions to HIV prevention, community partnerships, and systems-level improvements.
For more than three decades, the Latino Commission on AIDS has worked to address the entrenched inequities fueling the spread and impact of HIV in Latine communities nationwide. Despite progress, these communities continue to experience higher rates of new HIV diagnoses, substantial barriers to care, and persistent stigma. The 2026 Cielo Gala reaffirms the Commission's commitment to advancing culturally responsive programs, building leadership pipelines, strengthening community networks, and ensuring public health systems meet all communities' needs. Funds raised during the Gala directly support year-round initiatives, including HIV testing and prevention, community mobilization, organizational capacity-building, National Latino AIDS Awareness Day (NLAAD), Zero campaigns to address homophobia and transphobia, and national and southern regional health policy efforts.
The event details include a reception at 6:30 PM and dinner and program at 7:30 PM. Sponsorships, tables, tickets, journal, and silent auction opportunities are available at https://www.cielolatino.org. For more information about the Latino Commission on AIDS and its ongoing work, visit https://www.latinoaids.org.
